Friends with Benefits

August 15, 2006

Ghetto Gourmet

Photo by Vera Devera.

Reminiscent of the pop-up cinemas we wrote about earlier (and earlier), Ghetto Gourmet is a 'wandering supper club for lovers of fine cookin', conversation and art set in uniquely comfortable environments'.

The pop-up restaurant started out as an experiment, in a basement apartment in Oakland, California. Two brothers, Joe the chef and Jeremy the poet, now organize regular get-togethers in a variety of surprise locations, from parking lots to art galleries and private homes. Ghetto Gourmet's customers sign up for email alerts of when and where the next dinner will be held.

Patrons are expected to 'be cool' with sitting on floor cushions at low tables, and asked to bring their own beverages. Four course menus are around USD 40 per person, including live music, stand-up comedy, photography and other forms of art and entertainment.

Fun business (if you'd even want to call it that) for gourmand entrepreneurs more interested in spreading improvised joy than racking up revenues. Enjoy!

Comments

Hi! Thanks for blogging about Ghetto Gourmet on your site (which I love, by the way). Your products look really awesome. Did you know we're coming to Chicago for two days (Dec 22-23). Chicago's Chef Efrain Cuevas will be cooking in a home tba. Hope to see you there..perhaps we can try out some Urban Accents products!

Bill Buford: HeatHeat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany- A perfect Pig Roasting Pigmailion story from desk jockey to line cook in New York's Babbo restaurant

Mark Kurlansky: Salt: A World Historyfinally finished this sodium saga and while it's slow in many places, it's still a fascinating read about the history of salt and how different cultures in the world have lived and died for this simple element. Other food origins revealed as well. It's no Sidney Sheldon but give it a try.